Influential Woman · Automotive

Toni Raymond

Store Manager, O'Reilly Auto Parts

St. Louis, MO

2Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree GED Degree Associate's Degree in Business Management and Accounting from Sanford Brown College

Her Story

About Toni

I've been in the automotive field practically my whole life - I was an only child to a mechanic, so I learned how to do oil changes when I was young. Right now I'm the store manager at O'Reilly's Auto Parts, and I've been with the company for 11 years. This is actually my second time being a store manager for them. I was a commercial accounts rep for a few years, which I loved because I grew up in shops and really understood the mentality of the guys working there. When they can't get a part or need to find something special, I know exactly what they're going through because I've been in their position. That connection helped me build great rapport with customers, and I was in the top 20 sales for 80% of the year, every year I was in that role. Even now, customers still call me on my cell phone when I'm not in the store because they need something the other person can't find. Before automotive, I actually worked in IT from 2005 through 2008 for MTM Technologies, a technology reseller. I created a department there as an expediter, processing licenses for customers and handling invoicing for dropship orders so the accounting department could bill faster. As store manager, I handle hiring, firing, write-ups, scheduling, sales calls to commercial customers, and making sure all the training gets done for my team. My approach is simple - my team comes first, because if I don't take care of them, the customers won't be taken care of. We all have lives outside of work, and I try not to interfere with that. When I need something, they're there for me, and I'm there for them.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Toni

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to being a good person and doing my job. I believe in the golden rule - you treat others as you would want to be treated. That's what I do. If they're going to be mean to me, I'm going to be mean back, but I don't start off that way. I don't want to be treated badly, so I'm not going to treat others that way. It's really about treating people right and staying true to who you are.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I ever received was just be yourself. If you change who you are for a job, it's not worth it. You're not going to be happy, and if you're not happy, your workers are going to show that. You have to stay true to yourself, because changing for a job just isn't worth it in the end.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

Just believe in yourself, and don't let anybody deter you. If you believe it, you can achieve it. I'm a female in a male-dominated industry, and I've had to prove myself, but when someone finally gave me a chance, I flew with it and did great. You just need somebody to believe in you, but more importantly, you need to believe in yourself first. I want other women to read my story and see what I've accomplished as a woman in a male-dominated industry, so they can see that I've done it, and if it's what they want to do, they can do it too.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The biggest challenge in my field right now is dealing with my micromanaging district manager. Sometimes I have to tell him, 'Hey, Duke, you're micromanaging again. Slow your roll. We got this.' It's about managing up and making sure leadership trusts you to do your job without constantly looking over your shoulder.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Family always comes first in my personal life. I'm raising my autistic daughter, and she's my main focus besides keeping a roof over our heads. At work, my team comes first. If I don't take care of them, the customers aren't going to be taken care of. We all have lives outside of work, and I try not to interfere with their lives outside of work, because if they don't like where they're at, they're not going to come back. I try to do the same for my team that I do for my personal family, and it seems to work great for us because when I need something, they're there for me, and I'm there for them. Just yesterday I came in early so a team member could leave for his nephew's funeral - my team comes first, and taking care of them is how we take care of our customers.

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